Hot Rods to Paint or Patina? need your help!

To me, there is beauty in all of it. When I get them home I have to give that ride a fine welcome to the stable, shine what paint's there, sorta..get it so you don't get anything on your clothes' when you lean on it. Lipstick on a pig so they say .Promise them the world, make them safe and see where they take you. Slather it in Gibbs, fix as you Go.

 

Oh no... we appreciate it. Any excuse to run our mouths about our favorite subject you know.

 

I don't know your exact plans, but maybe this serves as inspiration.

https://www.hotrod.com/features/patina-1930-ford-model-roadster-looks-like-came-straight-1940s

 

Wasn't one of the Bond girls named Patina Blush?

 

Does that mean its OK to show off my patina covered motor?
At least mine is not poorly running, I usually just keep the hood closed and drive it...

 

Looks pretty good to me with the "patina". maybe try to match the blue on to the doors a little, I would treat the heavy surface rust areas and drive it.

 

I agree 100%.

 

Dude asked about painting or not


folks posting more about the word used


Hope he never askes about what size tyres to run

 

I gotta' say, you have just made my day. It's so good to see the correct spelling of the word 'tyres'. (It's a joke, man.)

 

Fixed the double “the” part.

Didnt want to hijack his thread

 

That’s my next question!

 

Not mentioned in the list, the Bond film "Never Say Never Again" was Sean Connery's return and final appearance as 007. The villain girl in that one was "Fatima Blush" played by Barbara Carrera (didnt like her). Honor Blackman on the other hand...

 

My aunt was a Bond girl

 

Fatima patina

 

Did she work for a bail bondsman?

 

Yes
That was her nickname at the jail

 

Well.....
As a licensed journeyman autobody painter, and hot rod and custom car enthusiast...in my opinion these days I cringe and become nauseated everytime I hear the "Patina" term. It could be because I hear it absolutely everywhere; cars, trucks, antique furniture, vintage signs...the list goes on and on.
When I got my 56 on the road, it ran the original paint, some small primer spots, until I could afford to paint it. Back then it was looked at as "In-progress" with "Original Paint" or "Untouched", nothing more nothing less.

Even the old hot rodders and custom guys I grew up looking up to said stuff wasn't painted until you could afford it. They called it work in progress back then. And here we are. 2026. My about-to-be started retirement project 53 will be ***embled, rust repaired, and mechanically safe to operate so I can drive it until the shiny expensive paint can be applied. It will be in-progress to me.

I can appreciate an UNTOUCHED and ORIGINAL painted car just as much as a shiny refinished one. All I want to do though, is paint everyone's vehicle I see in original paint a nice glossy shiny color! Maybe it's my aging cranky old a**, but hearing Patina is giving me the same nausea as the latest trend, that engine that starts with L and ends in S. And don't even get me fired up and started over the "fake" Patina!!

Barf.

 

Paint

 

Who said "it ain't done 'til it's shiny"?

 

So........ what are you thinking, bias plies or radials.......

 

I can’t believe I just read through 5 pages of this age old disagreement. Time for another cup of coffee. Have a great day fellows.

 

POR 15 is a good way to go, it'll go over anything and look like a nice black paint job and you can sand and paint over it when you're ready. It will cost under $100 and you'll be all set. POR 15 on my tub.